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TP explains lack of Gnabry chances and rules out Debuchy

Tony Pulis has explained why Serge Gnabry got so few chances at West Brom and ruled out taking Mathieu Debuchy on loan from Arsenal as his replacement.

West Brom signed Gnabry on a season-long loan in August, but the winger is set to return to Emirates Stadium this month after managing only 12 minutes of Premier League football for Albion.

It had led to suggestions that Debuchy could move to The Hawthorns on loan for the rest of the season – clubs are only allowed one player on loan from a Premier League rival – as he seeks first-team football to protect his chances of making France’s Euro 2016 squad.

Pulis, however, insists there have been no discussions with Arsenal regarding the former Newcastle United right-back.

“I’ve not said a word to Arsenal and Arsenal have not said a word to me, so that’s a definite no,” Pulis told the Express and Star.

Gnabry’s return to Arsenal is yet to be confirmed, but Pulis says his lack of opportunities is at least partly down to him joining the club with an injury: “I’m not going to get involved in that because the clubs are talking,” the Baggies boss added.

“He was very unfortunate because he came here injured and I think people forget that. He wants to play week in week out. It’s very difficult to guarantee that.”

Back in October, Pulis suggested that Gnabry was not yet good enough to play regularly in the Premier League, saying: “Serge has come here to play games but he just hasn’t been for me, at the moment, at that level to play the games.”